SAN DIEGO – The Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team (2-1) dropped a hard-fought contest to Northwest Nazarene (4-1), 64-60, on Friday afternoon in the PLNU Thanksgiving Classic at Golden Gymnasium.
TOP PERFORMERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM led 17-16 after the first quarter, shooting 46.7% (7-of-15) from the field and 42.9% (3-of-7) from beyond the arc while holding NNU to 35.3% (6-of-17).
- The Cougars built their largest lead of the game at seven points (35-28) with 2:48 left in the second quarter.
- CSUSM took a 39-38 lead into halftime after shooting 50.0% (8-of-16) in the second period compared to NNU's 40.0% (8-of-20).
- The Cougars opened the third quarter strong, going up 51-45 with 2:45 remaining before NNU rallied.
- NNU answered with an 8-0 run in the third quarter to erase a six-point CSUSM lead and tie the game at 52-52 heading into the fourth.
- NNU's biggest lead came in the fourth quarter at 58-52 with 6:51 left.
- Morales hit a layup at 4:48 in the fourth to cut the deficit to 58-54, but CSUSM couldn't get closer than four points down the stretch.
- NNU capitalized on turnovers in the final frame, scoring key baskets off Cougar miscues.
- The Cougars missed their last three field goal attempts as NNU sealed the win at the free-throw line.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM shot 38.3% (23-of-60) from the field and 30.4% (7-of-23) from three-point range, while NNU finished at 34.3% (23-of-67) and 31.8% (7-of-22).
- The Cougars held a 42-35 advantage on the boards and outscored NNU 16-5 in bench points.
- Both teams scored 24 points in the paint, while CSUSM led in second-chance points (13-10).
- NNU forced 23 turnovers and converted them into 15 points; CSUSM scored 17 points off 18 NNU turnovers.
- CSUSM led for 20:47 of game time, while NNU held the advantage for 17:05.
- This was the first meeting between these two teams in program history.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will wrap up play at the PLNU Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, Nov. 29, against Western Oregon at noon in San Diego.
